Beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material and a method of operation thereof

ABSTRACT

A beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquid beverage material and a method of operation thereof. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This application relates to a beverage bottling plant for fillingbeverage bottles with a liquid beverage material and a method ofoperation thereof.

2. Background Information

A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beveragefilling material can possibly comprise a beverage filling machine, whichis often a rotary filling machine, with a plurality of beverage fillingpositions, each beverage filling position having a beverage fillingdevice for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material. Thefilling devices may have an apparatus designed to introduce apredetermined volume of liquid beverage filling material into theinterior of bottles to a substantially predetermined level of liquidbeverage filling material.

Some beverage bottling plants may possibly comprise filling arrangementsthat receive a liquid beverage material from a toroidal or annularvessel, in which a supply of liquid beverage material is stored underpressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel may also be connected to at leastone external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by aconduit or supply line. In some circumstances it may even be possiblethat a beverage bottling plant has two external supply reservoirs, eachof which may be configured to store either the same liquid beverageproduct or different products. These reservoirs could possibly beconnected to the toroidal or annular vessel by corresponding supplylines, conduits, or other arrangements. It is also possible that theexternal supply reservoirs could be in the form of simple storage tanks,or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers.

A wide variety of types of filling elements are used in filling machinesin beverage bottling or container filling plants for dispensing a liquidproduct into bottles, cans or similar containers, including but notlimited to filling processes that are carried out under counterpressurefor the bottling of carbonated beverages. The apparatus designed tointroduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling materialfurther comprises an apparatus that is designed to terminate the fillingof the beverage bottles upon the liquid beverage filling materialreaching the predetermined level in bottles. There may also be provideda conveyer arrangement that is designed to move bottles, for example,from an inspecting machine to the filling machine.

After a filling process has been completed, the filled beverage bottlesare transported or conveyed to a closing machine, which is often arotary closing machine. A revolving or rotary machine comprises a rotor,which revolves around a central, vertical machine axis. There mayfurther be provided a conveyer arrangement configured to transfer filledbottles from the filling machine to the closing station. A transportingor conveying arrangement can utilize transport star wheels as well aslinear conveyors. A closing machine closes bottles by applying aclosure, such as a screw-top cap or a bottle cork, to a correspondingbottle mouth. Closed bottles are then usually conveyed to an informationadding arrangement, wherein information, such as a product name or amanufacturer's information or logo, is applied to a bottle. A closingstation and information adding arrangement may be connected by acorresponding conveyer arrangement. Bottles are then sorted and packagedfor shipment out of the plant.

Many beverage bottling plants may also possibly comprise a rinsingarrangement or rinsing station to which new, non-return and/or evenreturn bottles are fed, prior to being filled, by a conveyerarrangement, which can be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linearconveyor and a starwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement orrinsing station, in the direction of travel, rinsed bottles are thentransported to the beverage filling machine by a second conveyerarrangement that is formed, for example, by one or more starwheels thatintroduce bottles into the beverage filling machine.

It is a further possibility that a beverage bottling plant for fillingbottles with a liquid beverage filling material can be controlled by acentral control arrangement, which could be, for example, a computerizedcontrol system that monitors and controls the operation of the variousstations and mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.

At least one existing process for the manufacture of plastic bottles,including PET bottles, uses a blowing method from preforms, or blanks,which are heated and formed into respective bottles by blowing in a blowmold. At least one process relates to plastic or PET bottles that arerealized in the form of very thin-walled lightweight bottles thattherefore have low mechanical stability on their bottle bodies andespecially on their bottle body, which is generally cylindrical orapproximately cylindrical, i.e. they are relatively soft. Thin-walledlightweight PET bottles of this type, which are generally used only onceand the material or materials of which bottles, after use, are recycledto manufacture new bottles, have the advantage, among other things, thatthey are lightweight and require little material. As a result of theirthin-walled construction, however, there is a risk that lightweightbottles of this type can be deformed when they are grasped by the handin the middle of the bottle and/or that they will buckle in the middleof the bottle on account of the weight of the contents.

OBJECT OR OBJECTS

An object of at least one possible embodiment is to indicate a method ofoperating a beverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with aliquid beverage material. An additional object of at least one possibleembodiment of the present application is to indicate a method for themanufacture of plastic bottles or similar containers which, whileretaining the capability of employing an efficient and economicalfabrication process, creates improved mechanical stability even forthin-walled containers.

SUMMARY

At least one possible embodiment of the present application teaches amethod for manufacturing bottles or similar containers made of plastic,such as for manufacturing PET bottles, by possibly blowing a preformusing a blow mold, wherein prior to a blowing process, a reinforcementor stabilizing element is introduced into a blow mold, and an elementmay be located between an inner or mold surface of a blow mold and anouter surface of a container that can be formed during blowing of apreform, and can be connected with a container by a fabrication processpositively and/or non-positively.

A mechanical stabilization or reinforcement element can be asingle-layer or multiple-layer flat material, for example, e.g. plasticand/or cardboard and/or multiple-layer paper. Other realizations of areinforcement or stabilizing element are also conceivable.

In at least one possible embodiment, at least one reinforcement orstabilization element can be essentially held to a container by apositive and/or non-detachable and/or adhesive manner, and possibly byencircling the container in an area of the container to be stabilizedwith a ring or sleeve, so that the container may be in substantiallyfirm contact by means of its outside surface against an inside surfaceof the reinforcement or stabilizing element and/or for example so thatin the area where the reinforcement or stabilization element isprovided, the container essentially has a waist area with a somewhatsmaller diameter and/or has segments with a somewhat larger outsidediameter above and/or below the reinforcement or stabilizing element, sothat the reinforcement or stabilizing element is thereby secured topossibly prevent its axial displacement on the container. Other types ofa positive and/or non-detachable and/or adhesive connection of thereinforcement or stabilizing element to the containers are alsopossible, including but not limited to those that are adapted to thetype and shape of the reinforcement or stabilizing elements.

At least one possible embodiment of the present application also teachesthat at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element can essentiallybe connected to the container by means of non-positive and/or evenpossibly detachable connection.

One advantage of at least one embodiment is that for the fabrication ofthe containers provided with the reinforcement or stabilizing elements,the blowing machines that are already being used by a manufacturer, forexample by a beverage producer or a bottling plant, can essentially beused without modifications or at least without significantmodifications, and essentially including also the control system for theblow molds.

Developments of at least one embodiment of the present application aredescribed herein.

The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed further hereinbelow. When the word “invention” or “embodimentof the invention” is used in this specification, the word “invention” or“embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments ofthe invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of theinvention”. By stating “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”, theApplicant does not in any way admit that the present application doesnot include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinctinvention, and maintains that this application may include more than onepatentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant herebyasserts that the disclosure of this application may include more thanone invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention,that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respectto the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

At least one possible embodiment of the present application is explainedin greater detail below on the basis of one exemplary embodiment that isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one possibleembodiment example of what may be a typical system for fillingcontainers;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram which shows an additional possible variationof the arrangement of components shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic drawing of a plastic bottlemanufactured using the blowing method as describe herein;

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate various steps in the method for the manufactureof the bottle illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2D shows an additional embodiment example of a method for themanufacture of a bottle;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate additional variants for the positive and/ornon-detachable and/or adhesive connection and fastening of a stabilizingor reinforcement element to the bottle.

FIG. 3C shows a symbolically illustrated variant for the non-positiveand/or possibly detachable fastening of a stabilizing or reinforcementelement to the bottle.

FIGS. 3D-3F are additional illustrations of the possible embodiments ofstabilizing or reinforcement elements shown in FIGS. 3A-3C.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OR EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A shows schematically the main components of one possibleembodiment example of what may be a typical system for fillingcontainers, specifically, a beverage bottling plant for filling bottlesB with at least one liquid beverage, in accordance with at least onepossible embodiment, in which system or plant could possibly be utilizedat least one aspect, or several aspects, of the embodiments disclosedherein.

FIG. 1A shows a rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101, to which thecontainers, namely bottles B, are fed in the direction of travel asindicated by the arrow A1, by a first conveyer arrangement 103, whichcan be a linear conveyor or a combination of a linear conveyor and astarwheel. Downstream of the rinsing arrangement or rinsing station 101,in the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow A1, the rinsedbottles B are transported to a beverage filling machine 105 by a secondconveyer arrangement 104 that is formed, for example, by one or morestarwheels that introduce bottles B into the beverage filling machine105.

The beverage filling machine 105 shown is of a revolving or rotarydesign, with a rotor 105′, which revolves around a central, verticalmachine axis. The rotor 105′ is designed to receive and hold the bottlesB for filling at a plurality of filling positions 113 located about theperiphery of the rotor 105′. At each of the filling positions 103 islocated a filling arrangement 114 having at least one filling device,element, apparatus, or valve. The filling arrangements 114 are designedto introduce a predetermined volume or amount of liquid beverage intothe interior of the bottles B to a predetermined or desired level.

The filling arrangements 114 receive the liquid beverage material from atoroidal or annular vessel 117, in which a supply of liquid beveragematerial is stored under pressure by a gas. The toroidal vessel 117 is acomponent, for example, of the revolving rotor 105′. The toroidal vessel117 can be connected by means of a rotary coupling or a coupling thatpermits rotation. The toroidal vessel 117 is also connected to at leastone external reservoir or supply of liquid beverage material by aconduit or supply line. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, there aretwo external supply reservoirs 123 and 124, each of which is configuredto store either the same liquid beverage product or different products.These reservoirs 123, 124 are connected to the toroidal or annularvessel 117 by corresponding supply lines, conduits, or arrangements 121and 122. The external supply reservoirs 123, 124 could be in the form ofsimple storage tanks, or in the form of liquid beverage product mixers,in at least one possible embodiment.

As well as the more typical filling machines having one toroidal vessel,it is possible that in at least one possible embodiment there could be asecond toroidal or annular vessel which contains a second product. Inthis case, each filling arrangement 114 could be connected by separateconnections to each of the two toroidal vessels and have twoindividually-controllable fluid or control valves, so that in eachbottle B, the first product or the second product can be filled by meansof an appropriate control of the filling product or fluid valves.

Downstream of the beverage filling machine 105, in the direction oftravel of the bottles B, there can be a beverage bottle closingarrangement or closing station 106 which closes or caps the bottles B.The beverage bottle closing arrangement or closing station 106 can beconnected by a third conveyer arrangement 107 to a beverage bottlelabeling arrangement or labeling station 108. The third conveyorarrangement may be formed, for example, by a plurality of starwheels, ormay also include a linear conveyor device.

In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage bottle labeling arrangementor labeling station 108 has at least one labeling unit, device, ormodule, for applying labels to bottles B. In the embodiment shown, thelabeling arrangement 108 is connected by a starwheel conveyer structureto three output conveyer arrangements: a first output conveyerarrangement 109, a second output conveyer arrangement 110, and a thirdoutput conveyer arrangement 111, all of which convey filled, closed, andlabeled bottles B to different locations.

The first output conveyer arrangement 109, in the embodiment shown, isdesigned to convey bottles B that are filled with a first type of liquidbeverage supplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 123. The secondoutput conveyer arrangement 110, in the embodiment shown, is designed toconvey bottles B that are filled with a second type of liquid beveragesupplied by, for example, the supply reservoir 124. The third outputconveyer arrangement 111, in the embodiment shown, is designed to conveyincorrectly labeled bottles B. To further explain, the labelingarrangement 108 can comprise at least one beverage bottle inspection ormonitoring device that inspects or monitors the location of labels onthe bottles B to determine if the labels have been correctly placed oraligned on the bottles B. The third output conveyer arrangement 111removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly labeled as determinedby the inspecting device.

The beverage bottling plant can be controlled by a central controlarrangement 112, which could be, for example, computerized controlsystem that monitors and controls the operation of the various stationsand mechanisms of the beverage bottling plant.

FIG. 1B shows a possible variation of the arrangement of essentiallymain components of one possible embodiment example of what may be atypical system for filling containers as shown in FIG. 1A. Additionally,FIG. 1B shows a bottle forming arrangement 228 preceding the fillingstation 105. In at least one possible embodiment, the beverage bottlingplant is shown to also have a packaging station 303 located downstreamfrom the labeling arrangement 108 in the beverage bottling plant.

In other possible embodiments, an inspection station can be located inthe beverage bottling plant downstream from the bottle formingarrangement 228, in which the newly-formed bottles can be inspectedprior to being filled at the beverage filling machine 105. In at leastone possible embodiment example, a conveyor arrangement designed toconvey bottles B from the bottle forming arrangement 228 to the beveragefilling machine 105, can pass an inspection station, comprising anoutput conveyor arrangement. The output conveyer arrangement can conveyincorrectly formed or damaged bottles B. The inspection arrangement cancomprise at least one beverage bottle inspection or monitoring devicethat inspects or monitors the appearance of the bottles B to determineif the bottles have been correctly formed. The output conveyerarrangement removes any bottles B which have been incorrectly formed asdetermined by the inspecting device.

In the figures, reference numeral 1 indicates a thin-walled, orlightweight, PET bottle manufactured from plastic using a blowingmethod, with a mouth area 1.1 that has a bottle mouth, with an adjacentshoulder area 1.2 that has a substantially widening cross section, witha bottle body or body area 1.3 which, in the illustrated embodiment, isessentially cylindrical, and with a generally structured bottle bottom1.4.

In the body area 1.3, the bottle 1 is essentially encircled by a sleeve2, which is in substantially close contact with its inner surfaceagainst the outer surface of the body area 1.3 and essentially acts as areinforcement or stabilizing element to substantially mechanicallystabilize the bottle 1 in the body area 1.3. The sleeve 2, which in theillustrated embodiment essentially extends over almost the entire axiallength of the body area 1.3, is possibly fabricated from an relativelyflat material that is appropriate for the desired stabilization, such ascardboard or paperboard, possibly in the form of a paperboard tube, orpossibly even from a single-layer or multiple-layer paper, andessentially using the technology of existing methods for the manufactureof sleeves or tubes made of paperboard or cardboard, such as by possiblywinding.

The sleeve 2 is essentially secured to the bottle 1 on one handsubstantially as a result of the fact that the body area 1.3 is inrelatively firm contact against the inside of the sleeve 2, and on theother hand in the illustrated embodiment substantially as a result ofthe fact that the body area 1.3 has a somewhat slightly narrower waistin the vicinity of the sleeve 2, so that the sleeve 2 is consequentlyadditionally substantially secured to the bottle 1 to essentiallyprevent it from possibly unintentionally slipping downward.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in at least one possible embodiment, thesleeve can be held to the bottle 1 positively and/or in a substantiallynon-detachable and/or adhesive manner because the sleeve 2, on itsinside, has elements that essentially mesh evenly with the blown bottle,and thus possibly prevent a relative displacement between the sleeve 2and the bottle 1 in the axial direction. These elements can essentiallybe, for example, elevations that have a substantially triangular orsemi-circular cross section, as in FIG. 3A, which essentially at leastpartly fill up or run through the inner jacket of the sleeve 2. FIG. 3Dshows the exterior surface of bottle 1 with recessed channels 1 cessentially mating and fitting together with substantially angular ridgeprojections 1 r of the interior surface of sleeve 2. These elements canalso possibly be substantially cone-shaped elements, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 3B, which extend in a substantially punctiformmanner from the inner jacket of the sleeve 2. FIG. 3E shows the exteriorsurface of bottle 1 having essentially cone-shaped recesses 1 s matingand fitting together with essentially cone-shaped projections 1 p on theinterior surface of the sleeve 2.

However, these elements holding the sleeve 2 to the bottle 1 can alsopossibly be holes or depressions located on the inside of the sleeve 2.With these elements, too, the meshing described above between the sleeve2 and the bottle 1 essentially occurs during the blowing process.

As a result of the method described above, the external shape of thebottle 1 can be essentially designed without significant restrictions,and there is essentially no need for the bottle diameter to be enlargedsubstantially above or below the sleeve 2.

The sleeve 2 is possibly also used essentially as a label, and for thispurpose can possibly have printing on its outside surface and/orpossibly a graphic and/or possibly even a color design.

At least one possible embodiment of the present application also teachesthat there can also possibly be printing on the inside of the sleeve 2,or that the inside of the sleeve can essentially be designed in almostany desired fashion. This method makes it possible, for example, toessentially observe the information or illustrations possibly presentedon the inside of the sleeve 2 through a hole in the sleeve 2 that can belocated substantially diametrically opposite the information orillustrations, as a result of which the consumer is generally encouragedto spend more time with the product, which according to the prevailingtheory has a generally positive effect on the sale of the product.

The sleeve 2 is essentially applied to the bottle 1 during itsmanufacture. FIGS. 2A-2C show schematically one of the blow molds 3 of ablowing machine, for example a blowing machine that essentially employsa rotary construction, which possibly has a plurality of such blow molds3 on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a vertical machine axis.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blow mold is essentially realized inthree parts, and comprises two mold parts 3.1 and 3.2, which during themanufacture substantially mold with their interior mold surfaces themouth area 1.1, the shoulder area 1.2 and the body area 1.3 of therespective bottle 1, as well as a blow mold bottom 3.3 which, during themanufacture of the respective bottle 1, essentially molds the bottlebottom 1.4. The mouth area 1.1 could be prefabricated or formed in theblow mold 3 during the manufacture of the bottle 1. When the blow mold 3is closed, the two mold parts 3.1 and 3.2 as well as the bottom 3.3essentially form a mold cavity which, during the manufacture of thebottle 1, is substantially closed by the blow head 4 that essentiallyforms the blow nozzle with the prepared, heated preform 5 which extendsinto the mold cavity. The mold parts 3.1 and 3.2 are shown to be movedby actuators 3.1 a and 3.2 a respectively in FIG. 2D. In at least onepossible embodiment, these actuators 3.1 a and 3.2 a are controlled bythe central control arrangement 112. The blow mold bottom 3.3 and theblow head 4 can be moved by guide and control means (not shown) in asubstantially vertical direction, as indicated by the double arrow A andB in FIG. 2. FIG. 2D shows that in at least one possible embodiment ofthe present application the blow mold bottom 3.3 can be moved by anactuator 3.3 a. This actuator 3.3 a is also shown to be controlled bythe central control arrangement 112 in at least one possible embodimentof the present application.

In detail, the manufacture of the individual bottle is basicallyperformed as described below. At a sleeve delivery point on the blowmold bottom 3.3, which has been lowered and moved at some distance awayfrom the blow mold 3, a prepared sleeve 2 is stood substantiallyupright, i.e. is essentially set up with its sleeve axis oriented in asubstantially vertical direction. FIG. 2D shows in at least one possibleembodiment a sleeve positioning device 2 a places the sleeve 2 on theblow mold bottom 3.3. In at least one possible embodiment, the sleevepositioning device 2 a is controlled by the central control arrangement112. Then the sleeve 2 located on the blow mold bottom 3.3 is introducedfrom below into the mold cavity when the blow mold 3 is substantiallyclosed, and is lifted approximately to the level of the body area 1.3 tobe molded of the bottle 1 to be manufactured. By means of appropriateretaining or fixing means, for example possibly by suction or vacuumnozzles 6 on the inside surface of at least one mold part 3.1 and/or3.2, the sleeve 2 positioned in this manner is substantially fixed inposition in the mold cavity. In at least one possible embodiment, thesesuction or vacuum nozzles 6 receive suction from a vacuum or suctionpump 6 a, as shown in FIG. 2D. The blow mold bottom 3.3 is moved backdownward to approximately the level of the bottle bottom 1.4 to bemolded.

The blow mold is finally closed with the lowering of the blow head 4provided with the preform 5. FIG. 2D shows that in at least one possibleembodiment of the present application, the blow head 4 can be moved bymeans of an actuator 4 a, which is controlled by the central controlarrangement 112. By feeding in the blowing air via the blow head 4, andwith the application of heat or warming, the bottle 1 provided with thesleeve 2 on its body area 1.3 is molded from the PET preform 5. An airsupply 4 b feeds the blow head 4 with the necessary air for theformation of the bottles 1 in FIG. 2D. This air supply 4 b is alsocontrolled by the central control arrangement 112 in at least onpossible embodiment of the present application. For the unmolding of thebottle 1, the blow mold 3 is opened, i.e. the two mold parts 3.1 and 3.2are essentially moved or pivoted apart, the blow mold bottom 3 islowered, and the molded bottle is removed from its neck ring, forexample, so that the bottle can then be removed without any substantialinterfering contours or possibly even any other interference from theblow mold 3. A sleeve 2 for the next bottle 1 is then approximatelypositioned on the lowered blow mold bottom 3 at the sleeve deliverypoint.

In at least one possible embodiment example, instead of or in additionto the vacuum or suction nozzles 6, other possible means, e.g.mechanical means, can also be provided to hold the sleeve 2 or anotherreinforcement or stabilizing element in the mold cavity of the closedblow mold 3 at approximately the level of the bottle area to bereinforced or stabilized.

At least one possible embodiment of the present application wasexplained above on the basis of at least one exemplary embodiment. Itgoes without saying that modifications and variants can be incorporatedwithout thereby going beyond the teaching of the invention. Developmentsof at least one possible embodiment of the present application aredescribed herein.

For example, it is possible, instead of the cardboard or paperboardsleeves 2, to also provide other possible reinforcement or stabilizingelements, which are then either substantially positively ornon-positively connected with the bottle 1 during the molding or evenblowing process. In at least one such embodiment, possible reinforcementor stabilizing elements that essentially completely surround the bottles1 in the area to be reinforced and/or—with an appropriate realizationand/or selection of material and/or of the reinforcement or stabilizingelements—surround the bottles 1 only partly, e.g. in a hook-likefashion.

At least one possible embodiment of the present application also teachesthat a reinforcement or stabilizing element can also be non-positivelyattached to the bottle, whereby the connection can be either exclusivelynon-positive or a combination of non-positive and positive.

Because during the manufacturing process of bottles and containersmanufactured using stretch blowing, there is an essentially unavoidableshrinking process of the bottles 1, including a shrinkage in terms ofthe diameter of the bottles, this method is advantageous, because inthis manner a substantially solid seating of the sleeve 2 is achieved inspite of the possible shrinkage.

For this purpose, a reinforcement or stabilizing element may beelastically expanded before it is connected with the bottle so thatsubsequently, on account of its return to its essentially originalshape, it is substantially in solid contact with the bottle, exerts acompression stress on the bottle and thus provides additional possiblestabilization for the bottle, which possibly has a circular crosssection.

To produce the elastic expansion, at least one possible embodimentteaches, for example, that elements can possibly be located inside theblow mold that pick up the reinforcement or stabilizing element in afirst position and then move into a second position essentially fartherapart from one another, whereby the elastic expansion is created.

To produce the non-positive connection, at least one possible embodimentof the present application also teaches that the reinforcement orstabilizing elements can be manufactured from a material that possiblyreacts in a suitable fashion to the temperatures that essentiallyprevail during the blowing process, so that the desired annularcompression stress is essentially generated. For example, stabilizationelements can be used that shrink when heat is applied, or stabilizationelements that contract and expand reversibly when exposed to heat.Likewise, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the inside of the sleeve 2 can beequipped with flexible or elastic elements that possibly compensate forthe diameter reduction of the bottle 1 caused by the shrinkage andensure a firm connection between the sleeve 2 and the bottle 1. Theseelements can be flat elements, for example, that may be made of anelastic foam, or they can particularly advantageously be made of foldedpaper. FIG. 3F shows shrinkage compensator disks 22 located on theinterior of the sleeve 2 filling resulting shrinkage spaces 22 aeffecting a secure connection between the sleeve 2 and the bottle 1.

It is also possible to introduce individual reinforcement or stabilizingelements from above into the opened or partly opened blow mold 3,although the introduction of sleeves 2 or other reinforcement orstabilizing elements described above offers the advantage that thisintroduction can take place simultaneously or partly simultaneously withthe lowering of the blow head 4, and there are already means on the blowmold 3, namely the blow mold bottom 3.3 and its control means, that canbe used for this purpose. On a blowing machine with a rotaryconstruction, both the feed and positioning movements (the introductionof the reinforcement or stabilization element into the mold cavity andthe lowering of the blow head 4 for the introduction of the preform 5into the mold cavity) can take place in the same or at leastsubstantially same angular range of the rotational movement of therotor, so that a large angular area of the rotational movement of therotor remains available or essentially available for the blowingprocess, and thereby eliminates a restriction on the capacity of ablowing machine that could be caused by the introduction of the sleeves2 or other reinforcement or stabilization elements.

In at least one possible embodiment of the present application, aplastic bottle or similar container manufactured from a preform in ablow mold by blowing is provided on the outside surface of a containerarea to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement, which during the molding or blowing was connected with thecontainer positively or non-positively.

At least one possible embodiment of the present application relates to abeverage bottling plant for filling beverage bottles with a liquidbeverage, with a method for the manufacture of bottles or similarcontainers made of plastic, for the manufacture of PET bottles, byblowing a preform using a blow mold. This application also relates to acontainer, such as a bottle or similar container made of plastic, suchas a PET bottle.

Developments, advantages and potential applications of at least onepossible embodiment will become apparent on the basis of the descriptionherein of the exemplary embodiments and of the accompanying drawing. Allthe characteristics described herein and/or illustrated are the objector objects of at least one possible embodiment of the presentapplication, individually or in any possible combination, regardless oftheir placement in the present application.

One feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of thefiling of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a methodfor the manufacture of bottles or similar containers 1 made of plastic,such as for the manufacture of PET bottles, by blowing a preform 5 usinga blow mold 3, characterized in that prior to the blowing process, areinforcement or stabilizing element 2 is introduced into the blow mold,and that this element is located between an inner or mold surface of theblow mold 3 and the outer surface of the container 1 that is formedduring the blowing of the preform 5, and is connected with the container1 by the fabrication process positively and/or non-positively.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in themethod for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that for the blowing of the container 1, the preform 5prepared on a blow head 4 or a blow nozzle is introduced into the moldcavity of the blow mold 3 from a first side, for example from the top,and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element 2 isintroduced into the mold cavity from a second side, for example from thebottom of the blow mold 3.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the introduction of the at least one reinforcementor stabilizing element 2 into the mold cavity of the blow mold 3 takesplace simultaneously or approximately simultaneously with theintroduction of the preform 5 into the mold cavity and/or the closing ofthe blow mold 3.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement 2 is at least partly fixed and/or expanded in the blow mold, forexample by vacuum or suction and/or mechanical fixing means.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in themethod for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the reinforcement or stabilizing element is asleeve-like element that surrounds the container 1 in the container area1.3 to be stabilized, for example a sleeve 2 that is made of a flatmaterial, e.g. plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in themethod for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement is a grid-shaped, cage-like and/or hook-like element that atleast partly surrounds the container 1 in the area 1.3 to be stabilized.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement is elastically deformable.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement has raised mold elements on its inner jacket surface.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in themethod for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement has depressions on its inner jacket surface.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in themethod for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcing or stabilizingelement has at least one hole that penetrates its jacket surface.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcing or stabilizingelement has flexible elements on its inner jacket surface.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe method for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized in that the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement 2, at least on its surface facing away from the containeroutside, is at least partly printed and/or contains a graphic and/orcolor design.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in themethod for the manufacture of bottles or similar containers,characterized by the manufacture of the containers 1 on a blowingmachine that employs a rotary construction with a plurality of blowmolds 3 provided on a rotor that is driven in rotation around a verticalmachine axis.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in abottle or similar container 1 made of plastic, such as a PET bottle,manufactured in a blow mold by blowing from a preform 5, characterizedin that the container 1 is provided on the outer surface of a containerarea 1.3 to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement 2 which during the molding or blowing is connected with thecontainer positively or non-positively.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe container, characterized in that the reinforcement or stabilizingelement is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container 1 in thecontainer area 1.3 to be stabilized, for example a sleeve 2 manufacturedfrom a flat material, e.g. from plastic, cardboard or multiple-layerpaper.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe container, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element is an element that at least partly surrounds thecontainer 1 in the area 1.3 to be stabilized, for example a grid, cageor hook-like element.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in thecontainer, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element 2 is at least partly printed and/or has a graphicand/or color design on its surface facing away from the outside of thecontainer.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in thecontainer, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element is at least partly printed and/or has a graphicand/or color design on its surface facing the inside of the container.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe container, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element 2 has at least one hole which is located oppositethe printing applied to the inside of the reinforcement or stabilizingelement 2.

Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly inthe container, characterized in that the container has a largerdiameter, at least below the specified position of the lower end of thereinforcement or stabilizing element 2.

Yet another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the timeof the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in amethod of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beveragebottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plantcomprising: a beverage bottle filling machine being configured anddisposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; a firstconveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beveragebottles to said beverage bottle filling machine; a beverage bottleclosing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filledbeverage bottles; a second conveyor arrangement being configured anddisposed to convey filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottleclosing machine; a beverage bottle packing machine being configured anddisposed to pack closed, filled beverage bottles; a third conveyorarrangement being configured and disposed to convey closed, filledbeverage bottles to said beverage bottle packing machine; a beveragebottle forming machine being configured and disposed to form beveragebottles; a central control system being operatively connected to each ofsaid machines to monitor and control the operation thereof; saidbeverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatablevertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said verticalmachine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said verticalmachine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements forfilling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed onthe periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottlefilling elements comprising a container carrier being configured anddisposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of saidplurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured anddisposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles tobe filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold asupply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line beingconfigured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir tosaid beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage materialto said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structurebeing configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle filling machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beveragebottle filling machine; said beverage bottle forming machine comprising:a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connectedto said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor aboutsaid vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle formingarrangements for forming beverage bottles being disposed on theperiphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottleforming arrangements comprising: a mold being configured to mold blown,plastic material into a beverage bottle; said mold comprising twomovable side portions disposed opposite one another and a movable bottomportion; said movable bottom portion being configured and disposed toinsert a beverage bottle sleeve in between said two movable sideportions; said two movable side portions being configured and disposedto hold a beverage bottle sleeve there between; a movable blower headbeing configured and disposed to insert a beverage bottle blank intosaid mold; and said movable blower head being configured and disposed toblow air into a beverage bottle blank to expand the blank against theinterior of said mold to form a beverage bottle, and to press a portionof the outer surface of the beverage bottle against the inner surface ofa beverage bottle sleeve in said mold to connect the beverage bottlesleeve to the beverage bottle; and a star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beveragebottle forming machine; said beverage bottle closing machine comprising:a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connectedto said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor aboutsaid vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices beingdisposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality ofclosing devices being configured and disposed to place closures onfilled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devicescomprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receiveand hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle closing machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out ofsaid beverage bottle closing machine; said beverage bottle packingmachine comprising: a sorting arrangement being configured and disposedto sort and group beverage bottles into groups; and a packagingarrangement being configured and disposed to package the groups ofbeverage bottles; said method comprising the steps of: moving beveragebottles to said filling machine; moving beverage bottles into saidfilling machine; filling beverage bottles with a liquid beveragematerial in said filling machine; moving filled beverage bottles out ofsaid filling machine; moving filled beverage bottles to said closingmachine; moving filled beverage bottles into said machine; closingfilled beverage bottles with a closure in said closing machine; prior tofilling beverage bottles in said filling machine, moving beverage bottleblanks into said beverage bottle forming machine; inserting with saidblower heads beverage bottle blanks into said molds; inserting with saidmovable bottom portions beverage bottle sleeves into said molds; blowingair into beverage bottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanksagainst the interiors of said molds to form beverage bottles and topress a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottles against theinner surfaces of the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connectthe beverage bottle sleeves to the beverage bottles; moving beveragebottles out of said beverage bottle forming machine and to said beveragebottle filling machine; moving filled, closed beverage bottles out ofsaid beverage bottle closing machine; moving filled, closed beveragebottles to said packing machine; sorting filled, closed beveragebottles; grouping filled, closed, sorted beverage bottles; and packagingfilled, closed, sorted, grouped beverage bottles in packages.

A further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in acontainer made by inserting with blower heads beverage bottle blanksinto molds; inserting with movable bottom portions of said moldsbeverage bottle sleeves into said molds; blowing air into beveragebottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks against theinteriors of said molds to form beverage bottles and to press a portionof the outer surface of the beverage bottles against the inner surfacesof the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connect the beveragebottle sleeves to the beverage bottles; said container comprisingplastic, in particular a PET bottle, wherein the container is providedon the outer surface of a container area to be stabilized with at leastone reinforcement or stabilizing element which during the molding orblowing is connected with the container positively or non-positively.

Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time ofthe filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in amethod of operating a container filling plant, said method comprisingthe steps of: moving containers to a filling machine; moving containersinto said filling machine; filling containers with a liquid beveragematerial in said filling machine; moving filled containers out of saidfilling machine; moving filled containers to a closing machine; movingfilled containers into said machine; closing filled containers with aclosure in said closing machine; prior to filling containers in saidfilling machine, moving container blanks into a container formingmachine; inserting container blanks into a mold in forming arrangementsof said container forming machine; inserting container sleeves into saidmolds; blowing air into container blanks in said molds and expanding theblanks against the interiors of said molds to form containers and topress a portion of the outer surface of the containers against the innersurfaces of the container sleeves in said molds to connect the containersleeves to the containers; moving containers out of said containerforming machine and to said container filling machine; moving filled,closed containers out of said container closing machine; moving filled,closed containers to a packing machine; sorting filled, closedcontainers; grouping filled, closed, sorted containers; and packagingfilled, closed, sorted, grouped containers in packages.

Some examples of bottling and container handling systems and componentsthereof which may possibly be utilized or adapted for use in at leastone possible embodiment, may possibly be found in the following U.S.Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,477, entitled “Capping Machine for Cappingand Closing Containers, and a Method for Closing Containers;” U.S. Pat.No. 6,474,368, entitled “Beverage Container Filling Machine, and Methodfor Filling Containers with a Liquid Filling Material in a BeverageContainer Filling Machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,238, entitled “A Plantfor Filling Beverage into Beverage Bottles Other Beverage ContainersHaving Apparatus for Replacing Remaining Air Volume in Filled BeverageBottles or Other Beverage Containers;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,922, entitled“Apparatus for the Recovery of an Inert Gas;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,964,entitled “Method of Operating a Plant for Filling Bottles, Cans or thelike Beverage Containers with a Beverage, and a Beverage ContainerFilling Machine;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,473, entitled “Bottling Plant andMethod of Operating a Bottling Plant and a Bottling Plant with Sectionsfor Stabilizing the Bottled Product;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,762, entitled“A Filling System with Post-dripping Prevention;” U.S. Pat. No.6,668,877, entitled “Filling System for Still Beverages;” U.S. Pat. No.7,024,841, entitled “Labeling Machine with a Sleeve Mechanism forPreparing and Applying Cylindrical Labels onto Beverage Bottles andOther Beverage Containers in a Beverage Container Filling Plant;” U.S.Pat. No. 6,971,219 entitled “Beverage bottling plant for filling bottleswith a liquid beverage filling material and a labelling station forlabelling filled bottles and other containers;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,767,entitled “Beverage bottling plant and a conveyor arrangement fortransporting packages;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,624, entitled “Beveragebottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage fillingmaterial, a container filling plant container information addingstation, such as, a labeling station, configured to add information tocontainers, such as, bottles and cans, and modules for labelingstations;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,025, entitled “Beverage Bottling Plantfor Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and aContainer Filling Lifting Device for Pressing Containers to ContainerFilling Machines;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,894, entitled “Beverage BottlingPlant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and aContainer Filling Plant Container Information Adding Station, Such As, aLabeling Station Having a Sleeve Label Cutting Arrangement, Configuredto Add Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and Cans;” U.S. Pat.No. 7,010,900, entitled “Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottleswith a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and a Cleaning Device forCleaning Bottles in a Beverage Bottling Plant;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,417,entitled “A Beverage Bottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a LiquidBeverage Filling Material, and an Easily Cleaned Lifting Device in aBeverage Bottling Plant;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,938, entitled “A BeverageBottling Plant for Filling Bottles with a Liquid Beverage FillingMaterial, and a Container Filling Plant Container Information AddingStation, Such As, a Labeling Station Having a Gripper Arrangement,Configured to Add Information to Containers, Such As, Bottles and Cans;”U.S. Pat. No. 6,901,720, entitled “A Beverage Bottling Plant for FillingBottles with a Liquid Beverage Filling Material, and Apparatus forAttaching Carrying Grips to Containers with Filled Bottles;” and U.S.Pat. No. 7,121,062 “Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with aliquid beverage filling material, having a container handling machinewith interchangeable receptacles for the container mouth.”

The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed orincorporated by reference herein, may possibly be used in possibleembodiments of the present application, as well as equivalents thereof.

The purpose of the statements about the technical field is generally toenable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determinequickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patentapplication. The description of the technical field is believed, at thetime of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describethe technical field of this patent application. However, the descriptionof the technical field may not be completely applicable to the claims asoriginally filed in this patent application, as amended duringprosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in anypatent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, any statementsmade relating to the technical field are not intended to limit theclaims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting theclaims in any manner.

Some examples of filling machines that utilize electronic controldevices to control various portions of a filling or bottling process andthat may possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at leastone possible embodiment of the present application may possibly be foundin the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,921 issued toCartwright et al. on Apr. 18, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,511 issued toRonge on Oct. 15, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,082 issued to Paasche et al.on Dec. 28, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,488 issued to Ruhl et al. onApr. 12, 1994.

The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions,proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the application,are accurate and are hereby included by reference into thisspecification.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Jan. 18, 2007, havinginventor Gyula VARHANIOVSKY, corresponding Federal Republic of GermanyPatent Application No. 10 2006 002 633.0, Attorney Docket No.NHL-HOL-151, and title “BEVERAGE BOTTLING PLANT FOR FILLING BEVERAGEBOTTLES HAVING A BOTTLE HANDLING STATION AND A METHOD OF OPERATIONTHEREOF” is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in itsentirety herein.

The background information is believed, at the time of the filing ofthis patent application, to adequately provide background informationfor this patent application. However, the background information may notbe completely applicable to the claims as originally filed in thispatent application, as amended during prosecution of this patentapplication, and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from thispatent application. Therefore, any statements made relating to thebackground information are not intended to limit the claims in anymanner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in anymanner.

All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the variousembodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of theembodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein.

The purpose of the statements about the object or objects is generallyto enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determinequickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patentapplication. The description of the object or objects is believed, atthe time of the filing of this patent application, to adequatelydescribe the object or objects of this patent application. However, thedescription of the object or objects may not be completely applicable tothe claims as originally filed in this patent application, as amendedduring prosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowedin any patent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, anystatements made relating to the object or objects are not intended tolimit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limitingthe claims in any manner.

Some examples of lifting devices that may possibly be utilized orpossibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of thepresent application may possibly be found in the following patentpublications: U.S. Pat. No. 2,535,272 issued to Detrez on Dec. 26, 1950;U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,214 issued to Lippold on Jun. 16, 1953; GermanUtility Model No. DE-GM 1,923,261 issued on Sep. 9, 1965; German LaidOpen Patent Application No. DE-OS 1,532,586 published on Oct. 2, 1969;British Patent No. 1,188,888 issued Apr. 22, 1970; German Laid OpenPatent Application No. DE-OS 26 52 910 published on May 24, 1978; GermanPatent No. DE-PS 26 52 918 issued on Oct. 26, 1978; German Utility ModelNo. DE-GM 83 04 995 issued on Dec. 22, 1983; German Patent No. DE-PS 2630 100 issued on Dec. 3, 1981; and German Laid Open Patent ApplicationNo. DE-OS 195 45 080 published on Jun. 5, 1997.

All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein,and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated byreference as if set forth in their entirety herein.

The summary is believed, at the time of the filing of this patentapplication, to adequately summarize this patent application. However,portions or all of the information contained in the summary may not becompletely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patentapplication, as amended during prosecution of this patent application,and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patentapplication. Therefore, any statements made relating to the summary arenot intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not beinterpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

It will be understood that the examples of patents, published patentapplications, and other documents which are included in this applicationand which are referred to in paragraphs which state “Some examples of .. . which may possibly be used in at least one possible embodiment ofthe present application . . . ” may possibly not be used or useable inany one or more embodiments of the application.

The sentence immediately above relates to patents, published patentapplications and other documents either incorporated by reference or notincorporated by reference.

The corresponding foreign and international patent publicationapplications, namely, Federal Republic of Germany Patent Application No.10 2006 002 632.2, filed on Jan. 19, 2006, having inventor Volker TILL,and DE-OS 10 2006 002 632.2 and DE-PS 10 2006 002 632.2 are herebyincorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein forthe purpose of correcting and explaining any possible misinterpretationsof the English translation thereof. In addition, the publishedequivalents of the above corresponding foreign and international patentpublication applications, and other equivalents or correspondingapplications, if any, in corresponding cases in the Federal Republic ofGermany and elsewhere, and the references and documents cited in any ofthe documents cited herein, such as the patents, patent applications andpublications, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth intheir entirety herein.

Some examples of computer systems that may possibly be utilized orpossibly adapted for use in at least one possible embodiment of thepresent application may possibly be found in the following U.S. Patents:U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,480 issued to Roach et al. on May 16, 1995; U.S.Pat. No. 5,479,355 issued to Hyduke on Dec. 26, 1995; U.S. Pat. No.5,481,730 issued to Brown et al. on Jan. 2, 1996; U.S. Pat. No.5,805,094 issued to Roach et al. on Sep. 8, 1998; U.S. Pat. No.5,881,227 issued to Atkinson et al. on Mar. 9, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No.6,072,462 issued to Moshovich on Jun. 6, 2000.

All of the references and documents, cited in any of the documents citedherein, are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in theirentirety herein. All of the documents cited herein, referred to in theimmediately preceding sentence, include all of the patents, patentapplications and publications cited anywhere in the present application.

Some examples of inspection devices and/or spectral analyzers, andcomponents thereof, that may possibly be utilized or possibly adaptedfor use in at least one possible embodiment of the present applicationmay possibly be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No.6,424,416 issued to Gross et al. on Jul. 23, 2002; U.S. Pat. No.6,040,906issued to Harhay on Mar. 21, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,281,499issued to Kobayashi, et al. on Aug. 28, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,437issued to Van Aken, et al. on Jun. 7, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,166issued to Price on Sep. 19, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,222 issued toAlexay on Jun. 27, 1995; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,937,339 issued to Yamazakion Aug. 30, 2005.

The description of the embodiment or embodiments is believed, at thetime of the filing of this patent application, to adequately describethe embodiment or embodiments of this patent application. However,portions of the description of the embodiment or embodiments may not becompletely applicable to the claims as originally filed in this patentapplication, as amended during prosecution of this patent application,and as ultimately allowed in any patent issuing from this patentapplication. Therefore, any statements made relating to the embodimentor embodiments are not intended to limit the claims in any manner andshould not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Some examples of bottling systems, which may be used or adapted for usein at least one possible embodiment of the present may be found in thefollowing U.S. patents assigned to the Assignee herein, namely: U.S.Pat. No. 4,911,285; No. 4,944,830; No. 4,950,350; No. 4,976,803; No.4,981,547; No. 5,004,518; No. 5,017,261; No. 5,062,917; No. 5,062,918;No. 5,075,123; No. 5,078,826; No. 5,087,317; No. 5,110,402; No.5,129,984; No. 5,167,755; No. 5,174,851; No. 5,185,053; No. 5,217,538;No. 5,227,005; No. 5,413,153; No. 5,558,138; No. 5,634,500; No.5,713,403; No. 6,276,113; No. 6,213,169; No. 6,189,578; No. 6,192,946;No. 6,374,575; No. 6,365,054; No. 6,619,016; No. 6,474,368; No.6,494,238; No. 6,470,922; and No. 6,463,964.

The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may beconsidered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claimsduring prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentablydistinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art.

Some examples of cameras or the like optical monitoring apparatus thatmay possibly be utilized or possibly adapted for use in at least onepossible embodiment of the present application may possibly be found inthe following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,186 issued to Ringlienon Aug. 3, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,400 issued to Ringlien on Sep. 7,1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,713 issued to Schwartz et al. on Nov. 29,1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,446 issued to Gerber et al. on Aug. 15, 1995;U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,295 issued to Buchmann et al. on Aug. 26, 1997; andU.S. Pat. No. 5,898,169 issued to Nodbryhn on Apr. 27, 1999.

The purpose of the title of this patent application is generally toenable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public to determinequickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature of this patentapplication. The title is believed, at the time of the filing of thispatent application, to adequately reflect the general nature of thispatent application. However, the title may not be completely applicableto the technical field, the object or objects, the summary, thedescription of the embodiment or embodiments, and the claims asoriginally filed in this patent application, as amended duringprosecution of this patent application, and as ultimately allowed in anypatent issuing from this patent application. Therefore, the title is notintended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpretedas limiting the claims in any manner.

The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b):

-   -   A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the        specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably        following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the        Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent        and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine        quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the        technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for        interpreting the scope of the claims.        Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not        intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be        interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

The embodiments of the invention described herein above in the contextof the preferred embodiments are not to be taken as limiting theembodiments of the invention to all of the provided details thereof,since modifications and variations thereof may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the invention.

At Least Partial Nomenclature

-   1 Bottle-   1.1 Mouth area of the bottle 1-   1.2 Shoulder area of the bottle 1-   1.3 Bottle body of the bottle 1-   1.4 Bottle bottom-   2 Sleeve or reinforcement or stabilizing element-   3 Blow mold-   3.1, 3.2 Mold part-   3.3 Blow mold bottom-   4 Blow head with blow nozzle-   5 Preform made of plastic or PET-   6 Vacuum nozzle-   A Reciprocating movement of the mold bottom 3.3-   B Vertical movement of the blow head 4

1. A method of operating a beverage bottling plant for filling beveragebottles with liquid beverage material, said beverage bottling plantcomprising: a beverage bottle filling machine being configured anddisposed to fill beverage bottles with liquid beverage material; a firstconveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to convey beveragebottles to said beverage bottle filling machine; a beverage bottleclosing machine being configured and disposed to close tops of filledbeverage bottles; a second conveyor arrangement being configured anddisposed to convey filled beverage bottles to said beverage bottleclosing machine; a beverage bottle packing machine being configured anddisposed to pack closed, filled beverage bottles; a third conveyorarrangement being configured and disposed to convey closed, filledbeverage bottles to said beverage bottle packing machine; a beveragebottle forming machine being configured and disposed to form beveragebottles; a central control system being operatively connected to each ofsaid machines to monitor and control the operation thereof; saidbeverage bottle filling machine comprising: a rotor; a rotatablevertical machine column; said rotor being connected to said verticalmachine column to permit rotation of said rotor about said verticalmachine column; a plurality of beverage bottle filling elements forfilling beverage bottles with liquid beverage material being disposed onthe periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottlefilling elements comprising a container carrier being configured anddisposed to receive and hold beverage bottles to be filled; each of saidplurality of beverage bottle filling elements being configured anddisposed to dispense liquid beverage material into beverage bottles tobe filled; at least one liquid reservoir being configured to hold asupply of liquid beverage material; at least one supply line beingconfigured and disposed to connect said at least one liquid reservoir tosaid beverage bottle filling machine to supply liquid beverage materialto said beverage bottle filling machine; a first star wheel structurebeing configured and disposed to move beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle filling machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beveragebottle filling machine; said beverage bottle forming machine comprising:a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connectedto said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor aboutsaid vertical machine column; a plurality of beverage bottle formingarrangements for forming beverage bottles being disposed on theperiphery of said rotor; each of said plurality of beverage bottleforming arrangements comprising: a mold being configured to mold blown,plastic material into a beverage bottle; said mold comprising twomovable side portions disposed opposite one another and a movable bottomportion; said movable bottom portion being configured and disposed toinsert a beverage bottle sleeve in between said two movable sideportions; said two movable side portions being configured and disposedto hold a beverage bottle sleeve there between; a movable blower headbeing configured and disposed to insert a beverage bottle blank intosaid mold; and said movable blower head being configured and disposed toblow air into a beverage bottle blank to expand the blank against theinterior of said mold to form a beverage bottle, and to press a portionof the outer surface of the beverage bottle against the inner surface ofa beverage bottle sleeve in said mold to connect the beverage bottlesleeve to the beverage bottle; and a star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move beverage bottles out of said beveragebottle forming machine; said beverage bottle closing machine comprising:a rotor; a rotatable vertical machine column; said rotor being connectedto said vertical machine column to permit rotation of said rotor aboutsaid vertical machine column; a plurality of closing devices beingdisposed on the periphery of said rotor; each of said plurality ofclosing devices being configured and disposed to place closures onfilled beverage bottles; each of said plurality of closing devicescomprising a container carrier being configured and disposed to receiveand hold filled beverage bottles; a first star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled beverage bottles into saidbeverage bottle closing machine; and a second star wheel structure beingconfigured and disposed to move filled, closed beverage bottles out ofsaid beverage bottle closing machine; said beverage bottle packingmachine comprising: a sorting arrangement being configured and disposedto sort and group beverage bottles into groups; and a packagingarrangement being configured and disposed to package the groups ofbeverage bottles; said method comprising the steps of: moving beveragebottles to said filling machine; moving beverage bottles into saidfilling machine; filling beverage bottles with a liquid beveragematerial in said filling machine; moving filled beverage bottles out ofsaid filling machine; moving filled beverage bottles to said closingmachine; moving filled beverage bottles into said machine; closingfilled beverage bottles with a closure in said closing machine; prior tofilling beverage bottles in said filling machine, moving beverage bottleblanks into said beverage bottle forming machine; inserting with saidblower heads beverage bottle blanks into said molds; inserting with saidmovable bottom portions beverage bottle sleeves into said molds; blowingair into beverage bottle blanks in said molds and expanding the blanksagainst the interiors of said molds to form beverage bottles and topress a portion of the outer surface of the beverage bottles against theinner surfaces of the beverage bottle sleeves in said molds to connectthe beverage bottle sleeves to the beverage bottles; moving beveragebottles out of said beverage bottle forming machine and to said beveragebottle filling machine; moving filled, closed beverage bottles out ofsaid beverage bottle closing machine; moving filled, closed beveragebottles to said packing machine; sorting filled, closed beveragebottles; grouping filled, closed, sorted beverage bottles; and packagingfilled, closed, sorted, grouped beverage bottles in packages.
 2. Themethod of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 1,wherein for the blowing of the beverage bottle, the blank prepared on ablow head or a blow nozzle is introduced into the mold cavity of theblow mold from a first side, for example from the top, and the at leastone reinforcement or stabilizing element is introduced into the moldcavity from a second side, for example from the bottom of the blow mold.3. The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim2, wherein the introduction of the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element into the mold cavity of the blow mold takes placesimultaneously or approximately simultaneously with the introduction ofthe blank into the mold cavity and/or the closing of the blow mold. 4.The method of operating a beverage bottling plant according to claim 3,wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is atleast partly fixed and/or expanded in the blow mold, for example byvacuum or suction and/or mechanical fixing means; and the reinforcementor stabilizing element is a sleeve-like element that surrounds thebeverage bottle in the beverage bottle area to be stabilized, forexample a sleeve that is made of a flat material, e.g. plastic,cardboard or multiple-layer paper.
 5. The method of operating a beveragebottling plant according to claim 4, wherein the at least onereinforcement or stabilizing element is a grid-shaped, cage-like and/orhook-like element that at least partly surrounds the beverage bottle inthe area to be stabilized; and the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element is elastically deformable; and the at least onereinforcement or stabilizing element has raised mold elements on itsinner jacket surface.
 6. The method of operating a beverage bottlingplant according to claim 5, wherein the at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element has depressions on its inner jacket surface; and/orthe at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has at least onehole that penetrates its jacket surface; and the at least onereinforcing or stabilizing element has flexible elements on its innerjacket surface; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizingelement, at least on its surface facing away from the beverage bottleoutside, is at least partly printed and/or contains a graphic and/orcolor design; and the method further comprises the manufacture of thebeverage bottles on a blowing machine that employs a rotary constructionwith a plurality of blow molds provided on a rotor that is driven inrotation around a vertical machine axis.
 7. A container made byinserting with blower heads beverage bottle blanks into molds; insertingwith movable bottom portions of said molds beverage bottle sleeves intosaid molds; blowing air into beverage bottle blanks in said molds andexpanding the blanks against the interiors of said molds to formbeverage bottles and to press a portion of the outer surface of thebeverage bottles against the inner surfaces of the beverage bottlesleeves in said molds to connect the beverage bottle sleeves to thebeverage bottles; said container comprising plastic, in particular a PETbottle, wherein the container is provided on the outer surface of acontainer area to be stabilized with at least one reinforcement orstabilizing element which during the molding or blowing is connectedwith the container positively or non-positively.
 8. The containeraccording to claim 7, wherein the reinforcement or stabilizing elementis a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container in the containerarea to be stabilized, for example a sleeve manufactured from a flatmaterial, e.g. from plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.
 9. Thecontainer according to claim 8, wherein the at least one reinforcementor stabilizing element is an element that at least partly surrounds thecontainer in the area to be stabilized, for example a grid, cage orhook-like element.
 10. The container according to claim 9, wherein theat least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partlyprinted and/or has a graphic and/or color design on its surface facingaway from the outside of the container; and the at least onereinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly printed and/orhas a graphic and/or color design on its surface facing the inside ofthe container.
 11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the atleast one reinforcement or stabilizing element has at least one holewhich is located opposite the printing applied to the inside of thereinforcement or stabilizing element; and the container has a largerdiameter, at least below the specified position of the lower end of thereinforcement or stabilizing element.
 12. A method of operating acontainer filling plant, said method comprising the steps of: movingcontainers to a filling machine; moving containers into said fillingmachine; filling containers with a liquid beverage material in saidfilling machine; moving filled containers out of said filling machine;moving filled containers to a closing machine; moving filled containersinto said machine; closing filled containers with a closure in saidclosing machine; prior to filling containers in said filling machine,moving container blanks into a container forming machine; insertingcontainer blanks into a mold in forming arrangements of said containerforming machine; inserting container sleeves into said molds; blowingair into container blanks in said molds and expanding the blanks againstthe interiors of said molds to form containers and to press a portion ofthe outer surface of the containers against the inner surfaces of thecontainer sleeves in said molds to connect the container sleeves to thecontainers; moving containers out of said container forming machine andto said container filling machine; moving filled, closed containers outof said container closing machine; moving filled, closed containers to apacking machine; sorting filled, closed containers; grouping filled,closed, sorted containers; and packaging filled, closed, sorted, groupedcontainers in packages.
 13. The method of operating a container fillingplant according to claim 12, wherein for the blowing of the container,the blank prepared on a blow head or a blow nozzle is introduced intothe mold cavity of the blow mold from a first side, for example from thetop, and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element isintroduced into the mold cavity from a second side, for example from thebottom of the blow mold.
 14. The method of operating a container fillingplant according to claim 13, wherein the introduction of the at leastone reinforcement or stabilizing element into the mold cavity of theblow mold takes place simultaneously or approximately simultaneouslywith the introduction of the blank into the mold cavity and/or theclosing of the blow mold.
 15. The method of operating a containerfilling plant according to claim 14, wherein the at least onereinforcement or stabilizing element is at least partly fixed and/orexpanded in the blow mold, for example by vacuum or suction and/ormechanical fixing means.
 16. The method of operating a container fillingplant according to claim 15, wherein the reinforcement or stabilizingelement is a sleeve-like element that surrounds the container in thecontainer area to be stabilized, for example a sleeve that is made of aflat material, e.g. plastic, cardboard or multiple-layer paper.
 17. Themethod of operating a container filling plant according to claim 16,wherein the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is agrid-shaped, cage-like and/or hook-like element that at least partlysurrounds the container in the area to be stabilized.
 18. The method ofoperating a container filling plant according to claim 17, wherein theat least one reinforcement or stabilizing element is elasticallydeformable; and the at least one reinforcement or stabilizing elementhas raised mold elements on its inner jacket surface.
 19. The method ofoperating a container filling plant according to claim 18, wherein theat least one reinforcement or stabilizing element has depressions on itsinner jacket surface; and/or the at least one reinforcing or stabilizingelement has at least one hole that penetrates its jacket surface. 20.The method of operating a container filling plant according to claim 19,wherein the at least one reinforcing or stabilizing element has flexibleelements on its inner jacket surface; and the at least one reinforcementor stabilizing element, at least on its surface facing away from thecontainer outside, is at least partly printed and/or contains a graphicand/or color design; and the method further comprises the manufacture ofthe containers on a blowing machine that employs a rotary constructionwith a plurality of blow molds provided on a rotor that is driven inrotation around a vertical machine axis.